Cornelis "Casey" Scheele

Jesus called his brother, Casey, home to Heaven on July 9th. After struggling with a heart condition over the past year, Casey died peacefully in his sleep, at home, as was his wish.

Casey was born in Overslag, Netherlands. He emigrated to Canada, after living as a child through World War II, at the young age of 18. He began his Canadian experience working on farms in the Markham, Ontario area. He was soon mentored into the automotive body repair business. Along the way, he became a Canadian citizen, and, in 1954, he met a pretty young school teacher. Casey and Sheila married in 1957. For many years, he owned and operated his own auto body shop in Grimsby, Ontario, while running a small hobby farm with his family in Campden, Ontario. After retiring from the body shop business in 1985, Casey became a real estate agent, working for Family Trust, and later, Coldwell Banker in Oshawa, Ontario. In 2004, he moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he worked for several years as a school bus driver and Victoriaville Mall’s “natural” Santa Claus. Even while employed part time, he was a hard worker on his hobby farm, cutting and baling hay, taking care of horses, tending the world’s greatest-yielding vegetable garden, and fixing things, including his favourite tractor, around the farm. 

He loved everything aviation-related and obtained his pilot’s license while operating his body shop, enjoying many leisure hours above the earth. His other hobbies were hunting and fishing, pastimes which allowed him to share many special moments and belly laughs with some lifelong friends. Casey had a great sense of humor, and his laughter was infectious to those around him. 

Up until 2016, Casey was strong and healthy, amazing people and the medical community with his strength and resilience, and resistance to medicines of any kind. He credited his good health to a combination of strong faith in his Lord and Savior, healthy living, and the love of his family. 

Predeceased by his parents, Hermanus Scheele (1972) and Pieternella Van Herman Scheele (1989), as well as his wife, Sheila Jean Scheele (nee Coghill – 2013). Casey is survived by his children and his siblings and their families, including four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His son, Kevin Scheele, and family (wife Michelle and daughter Rhiannon) live in Oshawa, Ontario. His daughter Rosalie Evans (and spouse Ken) live in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and his daughter Merry-Lea Frame (and spouse John) live in Nanoose Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Merry-Lea’s son, Colm Hagan, lives in Oshawa, and has two daughters, Casey’s great-grandchildren, Maddison and Abbigail. Merry-Lea’s daughter, Charissa Cummins (and spouse Robin) live near her in Nanoose Bay. Her daughter, Katerina Frame (and spouse Greg Feere) live in Hamilton, Ontario. Casey’s brother, Herman Scheele and (most of) his family reside in and around Woodstock, Ontario while his other siblings, Aaltje Dieleman, Pieter Scheele, Jan Scheele, and Willem Scheele, and their families, all reside in the Netherlands.

In accordance with his wishes, Casey has been cremated. A celebration of his life for friends and family will be held in Southwestern Ontario in September, when arrangements have been made. In the meantime, the angel choir in heaven has welcomed a new tenor voice. Details about the service for Casey will be placed on the Jenkens website when they are known.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial donations to one of Casey’s two favourite charities, Covenant House in Toronto or Teen Challenge in Thunder Bay.